Watercooler Stories

EDINBURGH, Scotland, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- People who keep diaries are less healthy than people who don't, and actually make their problems worse, a study published Thursday indicates.

British psychologists who compared the physical and mental health of 153 people, of which 110 kept a diary, found that diarists suffered far more psychological problems, and the more often they made entries, the worse they felt. Those who reread their diaries were the unhealthiest of all, The Times of London reported.

The findings surprised researchers, Elaine Duncan of Glasgow Caledonian University, and David Sheffield of Staffordshire University, who presented them at a British Psychological Society conference in Edinburgh Wednesday.

The diarists reported suffering from sleeplessness, anxiety, headaches, indigestion and social dysfunction.

This was despite the fact 78 percent of the survey participants firmly believed writing about traumatic events was a good thing.

"If you want advice on the basis of this study, it would be 'Don't keep a diary. It may be bad for you,'" said Duncan.

Authorities say Sven Jaschan is believed also to be responsible for the Netsky virus.

If he is, the anti-virus firm Sophos estimates, Jaschan caused 70 percent of the virus activity during the first six months of 2004, the BBC said Thursday.

Jaschan, a student, has been charged with computer sabotage, data manipulation and disruption of public systems.

He could face up to five years in jail if convicted. No trial date has been set.

Some 143 victims of Sasser have reported damage.

Cracks appear in Bush's Air Guard term

DALLAS, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- New documents show President George Bush failed to carry out a direct order from his superior in the Texas Air National Guard in May 1972.

A memo from Bush's squadron commander, Lt. Col. Jerry B. Killian, ordered Bush "suspended from flight status for failure to perform" to U.S. Air Force and National Guard standards and failure to take his annual physical "as ordered," the document obtained by CBS said.

In addition, former Texas House Speaker and Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes told CBS he was the man who showed "preferential treatment" by arranging for Bush to enroll for a six-year hitch in the guard in May 1968 to avoid the Vietnam draft.

Barnes was then, and remains, a Democrat.

A few months before Bush became eligible for the draft, Barnes says he had a meeting with the late oilman Sid Adger, a Bush family friend.

"It's been a long time ... but he said basically would I help young George Bush get in the Air National Guard," Barnes said, adding he then contacted his friend Gen. James Rose, the head of Texas' Air National Guard to make the arrangement.

Poll shows foreign policy divide in U.S.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. Republicans are far more likely to act unilaterally on international issues than Democrats, an international poll published Thursday said.

The poll of 11,000 people in the United States and 10 European countries by the German Marshall Fund asked U.S. party members whether it was essential to secure the approval of the United Nations before using military force. For Democrats, 81 percent said yes, while 69 percent of Republicans said no, the Washington Post reported.

"Republicans have pulled away from the United Nations and NATO," said Craig Kennedy, president of the German Marshall Fund.

Europeans strongly disagree with the Bush administration's foreign policy, with 76 percent expressing disapproval, up from 56 percent two years ago.

The poll indicated Europeans are skeptical of a strong U.S. leadership role in the world, with a majority seeking a more independent approach for Europe on foreign and military policy.

"Europeans have decided they want to be treated as an equal partner with the United States," Kennedy said.